Improvement in harness coach-pads



out.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

ASA MCORAKEN, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESSy COACH VPADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,445, dated July 28,1874; application tiled December 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AsA MCORAKEN, of Mansfield, in the county ofRichland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harness 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in harness; andthe inventionconsists in a new mode of constructing the coach-pad, whereby it is madestronger and more economically than by the method heretofore in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an elevation of the coach-pad,one-half in section, showing its peculiar construction. Fig. 2 is a planview of same.

O represents a coach-pad of novel construction; and in order to enablethose skilled in the art to make and use the saine, I will now proceedto describe the manner of its construction. Instead of the usual sidestraps, which are secured to the pad and carry the trace-bearers andbelly-bands, I use a single strap, c, which extends from side to sideand itself forms part of the pad. The depending ends or side portionsare cut in proper shape, and the trace-bearers hare secured to it intheir proper position. The central portion of the strap c, which formspart of the pad, is cut lengthwise through the middle, the cut extendingfrom about oneinch below the end of the pad on one side to the samedistance on the other. The patent-leather lining c2, after being shaped,is sewcd or basted, lesh side out, to the edges of the central or splitportion of the strap c, a small leather roll or bead being' sewcd aroundthe outer edges. The ends of the strap c are then put through theopening of the cut and pulled through, with the patent-lea-ther lining,turning it right side The steel saddle-tree or plate c, which is madethe full width ofthe strap c, is then inserted through the cut to itsposition beneath the strap; the cut is then sewcd up, the pad stued, andthe ends closed. The tracebearers are then sewcd onto the side pieces,and the patent-leather top c, which has been previously shaped, and it'desired stitched, is placed in position over the strap c, and secured bymeans of the coach-pad hook, rein-rings, and two bolts, t', beingscrewed through it and the strap c, into or through the steel plate c3;the points of the top piece c4 are then stitched down on thetrace-bearers and strap, when the pad is completed, a proper loop forthe attachment of the back strap being provided.

By my improved method of constructing the coach-pad I secure thefollowing advantages: Increased strength, by reason ot' the strap cbeing all in one piece, forming the side pieces and part of the paditself, and from the fact that I am enabled to use a wider and strongersteel plate. Heretot'ore the metal plate required to be about half aninch narrower than the patent-leathtu top piece, in order to give roomto stitch a row on the edges ot' the leather outside or beyond the outeredges of the plate. By my improved method ot' constructionthat is, bysewing the lining' of the covered or hidden, and` that, the plate beingWider than the top piece, it holds` the binding ofthe lining up aroundthe edge of the top piece, thereby making a neat and durable iinish.Itpwill also be obvious that by this method of construction a greatsaving in labor and material is eii'ected.

What I claim 'as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

In a coach-pad, thestrap O, cnt lengthwise through its middle to a pointbelow the ends ofthe pad, for the purpose of stitching and turning thepadcover c2 and receiving the tree or plate c3, and prolonged to formskirts to receive the girth and trace-loops,substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 23d day of November, 1873.

ASA MCORAKEN.

Witnesses BENJAMIN ETTRIGE, MICHAEL R. DoLL.

